Ways and Means Committee hears bills on gaming rules, Baltimore redevelopment, TEDCO grants and tax notices

An Annapolis hearing of the Maryland Senate Ways and Means Committee March 30 heard a series of brief presentations on bills addressing gaming regulation, local economic development, small-business grant rules, consumer protections for online sweepstakes and a technical change to how the Comptroller notifies employers about possible earned income tax credit eligibility.

The measures were introduced, described by sponsors or their staff, and each presenter asked the committee for a favorable report; no committee votes were recorded in the hearing transcript.

Senate Bill 667: gaming slot machines / skill-based amusement devices Favor Obasiolu, a legislative fellow in Senator Gazzoni’s office, told the committee that Senate Bill 667 seeks “to modify the definition of slot machine to clarify that certain skill based amusement devices … may award players noncash merchandise, tickets, tokens, or other objects of minimal value per play.” Obasiolu said the change is intended to “align statutory language with existing regulations” and that the Senate and House crossfile passed unanimously in the originating committees. The hearing text records a request for a favorable report on SB 667; no vote outcome is recorded.

Senate Bill 4: West North Avenue Development Authority Senator Antonio Hayes (40th Legislative District) described the bill to give the West North Avenue Development Authority additional authorities to accept nonstate funding and to help that local redevelopment entity move toward self-sufficiency. Hayes said the authority has driven redevelopment and recaptured taxable activity in a long-disinvested area and asked the committee to consider extending an existing procurement exemption that he said currently sunsets in 2026 so that the authority can move faster. Hayes said the authority had to decline a private-sector grant last year because it…